Separable electrical connecter



Nov. 19, 1929. AL. LAWRENCE 6 I SEPARABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTER I Filed Sept. 29, 1925 illlllllfllllllllIlllllllllllllllxll avweutou Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED ALBERT LYNNv LAWRENCE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO SEPARABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTEB,

Application filed September 29, 1923. Serial No. 665,726.

My invention relates to improvements in separable electrical connecters and has for its object the provision of means in association with such connecters whereby they may be more readily connected or assembled for closing the controlled electric circuit.

The most common form of separable electrical connecter is of the type which has a screw-threaded base adapted to be inserted in a wall or baseboard socket, and a co-acting plug-member having terminals designed to be inserted within suitable contactrcontaining receptacles insaid base. I shall explain my invention as applied to a separable connecter of this type, although it is not necessarily limited to the structural features herein shown and described, except as they are defined in the appended claims.

A difficulty commonly met with in the use of separable electrical connecters resides in the repeated effort frequently found necessary in aligning the terminals of the plugmember with their receptacles so that connection may be established. The base or wall 2 socket in which the plug-member may be inserted quite often is in a dark corner or in an awkward position so that the location of the relatively small receptacles for the terminals of the plug may not be determined readily, hence some delay and difliculty is encountered in inserting the plug. Indeed, the advantages of a separable plug connecter frequently are not availed of and the device is screwed as a whole into the socket, because of the difficulty above referred to.

Accordingly, I have provided means for readily aligning the two members of a separable connecter that preferably conform to standard. specifications and sizes, while increasing the expense of manufacture in no material respect. Such means may comprise a positive terminal-stopor abutment in association with a receiving opening and with or without guiding grooves for theterminals, or

such centering means may comprise one or more flaring or tapered grooves leading to the contact receptacles, which grooves are adapted to align the terminals with such receptacles upon partially rotating the plugmember. The details of my improvements,

however, may best be explained by making reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: V

Figure 1 is a view of a separable plug-member with an attached section of connecting cord; both shown in elevation,

Fig. 2 1s a plan View of the associated basemember constructed in accordance with one modification of my invention,

Fig. 3 is an irregular vertical section on l1ne 33, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form (I); bfgse-member approximating the type of Flg. is aview-partly in elevation and partly 1n section on line 7-7, Fig. 2 illusgrating the connected plug and base memers.

The same character of reference is employed throughout the several figures of the drawings to indicate similar parts.

In accordance with my invention, it will be observed that one or both members of the separable electrical connecter, otherwise of Well known type, are modified for the purpose of guiding the protruding terminals to their respective contact-holding receptacles. This ordinarily is accomplished by approximately a quarter turn of the separable plug-member with respect to the inserted base-member; the terminals readily finding and seating themselves in engagement with their respective contacts.

The types specifically shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 require the modification merely of the 5 female or base-member of the connecter, so that the terminals themselves are guided into alignment with their respective receptacles in said base-member merely by rotating the plug-member with the ends of the terminals engaging the slotted surface of the base-member. Thus, in the type specifically shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there are provided two shallow tapering grooves e, e" wider at their diametrical or upper ends and narrowing down to the respective receptacles b, 6'' whose further walls form stops adapted to arrest, respectively, the terminals guided thereto. A partial turn of the plug-member, accordingly, will serve to bring the terminals into 25 embracing receptacles.

accurate alignment through the engagement of their ends with the-walls of the slots or grooves and permit their ready insertion into the contact-holding receptacles b, b. 5 The modification shown in Fig. 4 provides two similar flaring grooves f, f", with which one of the terminals is adapted to be engaged and, upon turning the plug in either direction, the two terminals will be brought into alignment with their respective receptacles and one or the other of the side walls of said receptacles will serve as a stop to assist the insertion of the terminals when thus aligned I with their respective receptacles.

It will be appreciatedthat the openings of the contact-containing receptacles preferably are made of small size to'prevent the entrance of dirt or any short circuiting metallic part. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide positively acting centering means,

such as herein shown, and in association with a stop or stops for the terminals, afforded bythe substantially radial vertical walls, to

facilitate their insertion within the closely I-Iavingnow described types of separable electrical connecters, each embodying my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent, together with such structural departures therefrom as may be made by those skilled in the art, the following:v

1. In a separable electrical connecter, the combination with the plug-member, of pro trudlng electric terminalsspaced apart and equidistant of the axis of said member and extending substantially parallel therefrom, a

base-member having contact-containing receptacles positioned to receive said terminals when the two members are assembled; the upper face of said base-member having int 3. In a separable electrical connecter, the

extending therefrom, a base-member having clmed and outwardly expanded grooves of these hi her diametrical walls of said recepcombination with the plug-member, of protruding electric terminals spaced apart and extending therefrom, a base-member having contact-containing receptacles positioned to I accommodate said terminals when the two members are assembled; said base-member having a downwardly inclined groove extending to a receptacle below the level of the opposite wall of said receptacle forming a .stop terminating said groove, substantially as set forth.'

4. In a separable electrical connecter of the class described, the combination with the plug-member, of protruding electric terminals spaced apart and extending therefrom, a coact-ing base-member having contact-con- I taining receptacles similarly spaced to accommodate said terminals when the two members age assembled; said base-member having inclined and rearwardly flaring grooves in its upper face respectively cuttlng opposite side walls of the receptacles below' the levels of the respective opposing walls, whereby the terminals are guided into alignment with said receptacles and arrestedin position for insertion therein, substantially as set forth.

5. In a separable electrical connecter, thecombination with the plug-member, of protruding electric terminals spaced apart and extending therefrom in diametrical relation,

openings similarly positioned to receive said terminals when the two members are assembled; a vertical radial wall of an opening 1 being higher than its opposing wall to form a stop, and means for guiding a terminal into arresting engagement with said higher vertical wall of such opening upon the relative rotation of said members, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name at Cleveland, Ohio, this 26th day of September, A. D., 1923.

ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.

95 a base-member having contact-containing 

